Lindsay Whittle calls for more police cash

Lindsay Whittle, the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, has called upon the Government for more policing funds.

Mr Whittle said that after meeting with Gwent Police Chief Constable Mike Giannasi the police authority had a £10 million shortfall.

Councillor Whittle said: “It’s clear that Gwent Police does not have enough funding and that is down to the Home Office. Plaid believes Gwent needs more funding, not less, as appears likely from Westminster because of the huge public debt.”

Plaid Cymru recently said there were 25 Gwent Police stations on a list slated for closure, five of them in Caerphilly County Borough.

It has been reported stations in Caerphilly town, Fochriw, Nelson, Abertridwr and Lansbury Park are under threat and could be replaced by “mobile units”.

But in a letter to councils and politicians Mr Giannasi said no decisions had been made to close any police station.

That has not stopped Plaid making political capital out of the “list”, revealed by Plaid Cymru’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Islwyn, Steffan Lewis.

An online petition has been set up by the party at www.saveourstation.co.uk

He said: “Putting out a petition like this is misleading and irresponsible.

“The leader of the council should know better. I have been assured that there are no plans to close any police stations in Caerphilly and this so-called ‘secret list’ is merely one of series of ideas that Gwent Police are considering with regard to future estates management.

“Residents of Caerphilly can rest assured that I will be working hard with my colleague Wayne David MP to monitor this situation and will be keeping in close contact with Gwent Police.”